Engine starter



June 4, 1935. R. P. LANSING 2,003,452

ENGINE STARTER Filed Sept. 50. 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 4 +5 awww@ June 4, '1935. R P LANslNG 2,003,452

ENGINE STARTER Filed Sept. 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZQZ. v r

Patented June 4, 1.935

i UNITED sTATEs ENGINE STARTER Raymond P. Lansing, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 30, 1926, Serial No. 138,792

. 29 claims. (c1. 12s- 119) My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of internalcombustion engines, and more particularly, but not necessarily; airplane engines, and the object thereof is to provide a simple, efIicient Kand reliable apparatus of this, character for either `power or manual operation orboth combined, and characterized more particularly by the provision of a clutch in the drive or transmission proper which clutch is controlled by the operator and disabled thereby to prevent the transmission of torque to the drive when the engine is running, but permitting such transmission of torque when the engine .is idle and it is desired to crank the same for starting purposes.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an engine .starting apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.'3 a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. fi a plan view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 an elevation partly in section of the operating lever and associated parts.

Referring to the apparatus-as illustrated in the drawings the same comprises essentially the drive or transmission proper including a driving member which is permanently in engagement with a member ofthe engine to be started, starting means 'which here comprises both manual means and power means, the latter being operatively connected through reduction gearing with the drive or transmission.

' First describing thedrive or transmission the same is vlocated and mounted within a main casing I which is secured in suitable manner as by The driving member or shaft 5 is drivingly connected at its inner end with a sleeve 9 by means of splines whereby such sleeve and shaft are connected together for rotary movement and such sleeve has a sliding or longitudinal movement on said shaft. This sleeve is located between the shaft 5 and the driving barrel and is concentric therewith and between such sleeve and barrel there is arranged a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch I0, one set of whose plates is splined' 5 to the interior of the barrel and the other to the exterior of the sleeve. These friction disks are located and clamped between a peripheral flange II of the shaft 5 and a marginal flange I2 of the sleeve 9, spacing rings I3 and I4 being interposed between said parts. A longitudinally movable plate I5 is arranged to bear 'against the flange I2 and to transmit the pressure of a. series of coil springs I6 to the friction disks and also to control such pressure and to disable these springs in their pressure applying capacity. These springs are interposed between such plate I5 and a ring I'I which is secured to the end plate I8 of the driving barrel 4.

The main driving shaft I9 which is arranged in line with the driving member 5 is drivingly connected to the plate I8 and is journaled in a supplemental casing 20 secured to the main casing by the screws 2I. This shaft is provided at its outer end with a bevel pinion 22 which is here shownas integral therewith.

Describing the manually operated starting means the same comprises a cranking shaft 23 journaled in a casing 24 which is secured tothe casing in suitable manner as by means of screws 25. This cranking shaft is provided near its outer end with pins 26 with which. an ordinary hand crank engages and at its inner end with a bevel gear 2l meshing with the bevel gear 22.

Next describing the power means and the interposed driving connections including the inertia means and the reduction gearing, such gearing consists of a stationary internal gear 28 with which meshes a series of three planetary gears 29 which also mesh with a, central or sun gear 30 here shown as formed integral on the hub' of a large gear3I mounted 4to rotate loosely upon. the shaftY I9. This gear 3| meshes with a pinion 32 which is here shown as formed upon the hub of a bevel gear 33` which is mounted upon a shaft 34 journaled on the opposite side Walls of the casing 20.

The power means consists of an electric motor 35 detachably secured to and mounted upon a casing 3B with its extended armature shaft projecting thereinto. Within this casing 36 there is arranged the inertia means which consists of a flywheel composed of a ring 31 of the desired weight or mass, a web 38 and a hub 39. This hub is journaled in bearings 40 in the casing 35 and at its lower end is secured to the shank of a bevel pinion 4I which meshes with the bevel lgear 33. Describing the means for automatically connecting and disconnecting the motor from the -ilywheeL the armature is provided with a screw passes the manually operated rod 48 extending through the casing 24 and through the plate I5 and terminating in a head between' which and the .plate I5 is interposed an anti-friction bearvco ing 49. This rod 48 and plate l5 are held in proper assembled position by a spring ring 50. The manually operated means for controlling the reciprocating movements of the rod 48 consists of an oscillating lever 5I pivoted at 52 to a stand or bracket 53. This lever is provided with two parallel handles 54 and 55 and the same carries intermediate its length two pawls 56 and 51 pivoted thereto. The pawl-51 is adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth 5s at the top edge or an oscillating quadrant 59 also pivoted on the pin or fulcrum 52. The outer end of the rod 48 is pivotally connected to the quadrant by slot and pin connection at 60. The other pawl 56 cooperates with the ratchet teeth 6| formed at the top edge of a stationary quadrant in the stationary bracket 53 which is shaped in the form of a quadrant. The pawl 56 is controlled by the plunger 62 passing through the handle 55 and terminating in an upwardly spring pressed button 53, while the pawl 51 is controlled by the plunger 64 passing through the handle 54 and terrninating in an upwardly spring pressed button 65.

Normally-that is to say, except when the starting apparatus is in process of cranking the enginethe clutch-controlling devices last above described will stand in position to disable the clutch. To so position the clutch-controlling means, lever 5i is `moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1 and is latched in such retracted position by engagement of its pawl 56 with a suitable tooth 6I of the stationary quadrant. In this movement of lever 5| its pawl 51 carries along the movable quadrant 59, retract;- ing the rod 48 and the plate I5 and consequently disabling clutch I0 by relieving its friction elements from the pressure of clutch-springs I6.

l First to describe a cycle of operations using the manually-operated starting means, and understanding that the clutch-controlling devices are in the normal, clutch-disabling position last above described, the operator rotates the cranking shaft 23 to set in motion the inertia means or flywheel, 31. The cranking shaft 23 is drivingly connected with the barrel 4 and consequent rotation of the barrel operates the reduction gear train from its low-speed end to impart rapid rotation to the flywheel 31 connected with the high-speed end of the train. Because of the disabled condition of the clutch I0, substantially no torque is transmitted from barrel 4 to the driving member 5. When the desired R. P. M. of the flywheel has been reached, the operator will depress latch-button 65, thereby to release the friction clutch I0 from its normal, disabling restraint. Pawl 511s lifted to release movable quadrant 59, whereby clutch-springs I6 are freed to move the controlling rod 48 and its connected parts to the left (Fig. 1) with a snappy action, the controlling rod being freed from the weight of operating lever 5I and from any restraint, in-

tentional or accidental, of the hand of the op.

erator. Clutch i0 having thus been brought into driving engagement, to rotate driving member 5 with barrel 4, the energy stored in the rapidly rotating flywheel is applied, through the reduction gear andthe driving member, to crank the engine. The operator, immediately after depressing latch button 65, will depress the other latch button 63 to lift pawl 56 from engagement with the stationary quadrant, and will then move the hand-lever 5I leftwardly (Fig. 1) to re-engage pawl 51 with the movable quadrant 59. When the engine starts on its own power the operator will retract hand-lever 5I to its initial nected from the iiywheel because of the separation of the clutch jaws 44 and 45 as seen in Fig. 1.

Next describing the operation with the utilization of the power means, when the motor is' energized the nut 43 will automatically advance along the screw threaded portion 42 of the 4armature shaft and drivingly'engage with such flywheel through the clutch jaws 44 and 45. 'The reduction gearing will thereupon be rotated. It will be understood that at this time the clutch I 0 is in its inoperative or disabled condition. When the desired R. P. M. of the ilywheel is reached the operator operates the manual control in the manner and with the result above explained, and after the engine starts on its own power the clutch I0 is disabled likewise in the manner above explained. It will be understood that the clutch I0 serves not only as a torque transmitting device but also as a backre release inasmuch as it will slip in case of backward rotation caused by engine backfire.

I claim:

1. An engine starter apparatus including, in a unitary construction for association with an internal combustion engine, a driving member adapted and arranged for permanent engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means surrounding and engaging said driving member -for actuating the same but normallyrestrained from driving relation with it, controlling means for such actuating means operable to establish driving relation of such actuating means with said driving member, and means for transmitting a starting impulse to said actuating means.

2. An engine starter apparatus including, in a unitary construction for association with an internal combustion engine, a driving member adapted and arranged for permanent engagement with a member of the engine to be started, starting means, actuating connections including reduction gearing from said starting means to said driving member normally restrained from driving relation with the latter, controlling means for such actuating connections operable at will to establish driving relation of said actuating l connections with said driving member, and means for transmitting a starting impulse to said actuating connections.

3. An engine starter apparatus including, in a unitary attachment for an internal combustion engine, 'a rotatable driving member adapted and arranged ior permanent engagement with a member of the engine to be started, actuating means therefor including an inertia device, means for rotating said inertia device; normally-disabled clutch means for establishing driving relation between said inertia device and said driving member, and controlling means for conditioning the last said means to establish driving relation between said inertia device and said driving member, and means for transmitting a' starting impulse to said clutch.

l'unitary attachment for an internal combustion .ing member permanently in engagementwith a member of the engine to be started, actuating means therefor normally restrained from driving relation with such driving member and including a clutch having spring in eans urging it toward driving closure with said driving member, means for compressing said spring means and relieving the clutch therefrom, and means operable at will for releasing said spring means from effect of the last said means to free said spring means to snap said clutch closed.

6. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member permanently in engagement with a member of the engine to be started and actuating means therefor normally restrained from driving relation with said drivingmember, said actuating means including a friction clutch in engagement with the driving member, clutch pressure-springs, manually operable means for putting and holding said springs under stress and relieving said friction clutch from their pressure, means operable at will to break connection between said springs and said manually operable means, and means for transmitting a starting impulse to said clutch.

7. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member,- a driving barrel concentric with the driving member, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and-driving member and constituting the-sole driving connection between said barrel and driving member, resilient means for applying pressure to the clutch, and means aligned with ari extending beyond the end of said driving member for controlling the action of such springs upon the clutch.

8. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member, a driving barrel concentric with the driving member and extending beyond one end thereof, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and driving member, spring means for applying pressure to the clutch, a driving shaft drivingly connected with said barrel, and a manually operated element passing through said shaft and controlling said spring means.

.9. In engine starting apparatus, an inertia member, means for rotating said inertia member to store energy therein, a driven member engageable with a member of the engine to be started, means including a gear train and a. friction clutch for drivably connecting said inertia member with said engine-engaging member, means for exerting predetermined pressure on said friction clutch, and remotely controlled means for rendering said pressure exerting means ineffective during the period of storage of energy in said inertia member.

rotary movement therewith, means for transmitting the starting impulse to said sleeve, and through said sleeve and driving member to the engine member, a clutch connecting said sleeve with said transmission means, said 4clutch bein@ engaged during the starting operation only, and means for maintaining the clutch indisengaged position.

11. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started and a sleeve connected with the driving member'for movement relatively thereto, means for transmitting the starting impulse to said sleeve and through said sleeve and driving member to the engine member, a clutch connecting said sleeve 'with said transmission means, an`d made drivingly effective or ineffective through movement of said sleeve.

12. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in constant engagement with a member of the engine to be started and a sleeve connected with the driving member for movement therewith means for transmitting a starting kimpulse through said sleeve to said driving member, a friction clutch connecting said sleeve with -said transmission means, and means tending to move said sleeve in a direction to make such clutch driving effective, said clutch being disengaged during the normal operation of the engine. l

13. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for transmitting the starting impulse to said driving member and through said driving member to the engine member, a clutch connecting said driving member with said transmission means, a spring cooperating with said clutch and tending to make said clutch drivingly effective, and means for rendering said spring and clutch ineffective during the normal operation of the engine.

14.' An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in constant ,engagement with a member of the engine to be started and a clutch connected with the driving member for rotary movement therewith and for relative longitudinal movement thereof, means -for transmitting a starting impulse through said clutch to said driving member, and manual'means for locking the clutch in non-driving position during the normal operation of the engine.

15. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started and a clutch connected with the driving member for rotary movement therewith and for relative longitudinal .movement thereof, a driving. barrel which is concentric'of the clutch and adapted to transmit a starting impulse to said driving member through said clutch, means for controlling the longitudinal movement of said clutch, and means for locking said controlling means.

16. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving barrel substantially concentric with the driving member and extending beyond one end thereof, a friction clutch constituting the sole driving connection between the barrel and driving member, resilient means interposed between the extended end of the barrel and the clutch for applying pressure to the clutch, means beyond the end of said driving member for controlling the action of said resilient means, and means for transmitting starting impulse through said clutch to said driving member.

17. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a. driving barrel substantially concentric with the driving member, a friction clutch constituting the sole driving connection between the barrel and driving member, a movable plate traversing said space and adapted to transmit pressure to the clutch, a series of springs interposed between such plate and the inner end of the barrel, -means for moving said plate to control the action of said springs upon the clutch, and means for transmitting starting impulse through said clutch to said driving member.

18. A'n engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving barrel substantially concentric with the driving member, a friction clutch constituting the sole driving'connection between the barrel and driving member, a driving shaft drivingly connected with said barrel, starting means connected with said shaft, yieldable means for applying pressure vto said clutch, means passing through said shaft and controlling said yieldable means, and means for transmitting starting impulse through said clutch to said driving member. Y

19. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement witha member of the engine to be started, a driving barrel substantially concentric with the driving member, a friction clutch constituting the sole driving connection between the barrel and driving member, a driving shaft adapted and arranged to transmit a starting impulse to said barrel, a plate interposed in the space. between said driving member and the barrel-end, and means passing.

through said shaft and connected with said plate to thereby control the pressure applied to said shaft.

20. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a sleeve slidably mounted upon and rotatable with said driving member, a driving barrel substantially concentric with said driving member and sleeve means operative to transmit a starting impulse to said driving barrel, a driving connection between said barrel and sleeve, said driving connection being constituted by a friction clutch, subject to compression by movement longitudinally of the barrel, and a manually operated plate controlling thc pressure applied to the clutch.

21. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving barrel, means including a shaft drivably connected with said barrel to transmit a starting impulse to said barrel, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and driving member, a rod passing through said shaft and controlling said clutch, and moans for reciprocating said rod and for holding the same in 'position to disable the clutch.

22. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving barrel, means including a hollow vshaft drivably connected to said barrel to transmit a starting impulse to said barrel, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and driving member, a rod passing through said shaft and controlling said clutch, means for moving the rod to one position to disable the clutch, means for disconnecting said rod from said moving means to permit the rod to snap to its other position, and means for causing said snap action.

23. An engine starter apparatus including a driving member in engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means including a hollow shaft drivably connected to said driving member to transmit a starting impulse to said drivingmember, a friction clutch operatively connecting said shaft with the driving member, a rod passing through said shaft 'and controlling said clutch, means for moving the rod to one position to disable the clutch, means for disconnecting said rod from said moving means to permit the rod to snap, to its other position, and means for causing said snap action.

24. An engine starter including an engine engaging member, a sleeve connected to said engine engaging member for rotary movement therewith and relatively thereto, means for transmitting the starting impulse to said sleeve, and through said sleeve to said engine engaging member, a clutch connecting said sleeve with said transmitting means, said clutch being engaged during the starting operation only, and means for maintaining the clutch in the disengaged position.

25. An engine starter including an engine engaging member, a sleeve connected to said engine engaging member for rotary movement therewith, means for transmitting the starting impulse to said sleeve, and through said sleeve to said engine engaging member, a clutch connecting said sleeve with said transmitting means, and means movable within said sleeve to render said clutch drivingly effective or ineffective.

26. In engine starting apparatus, an inertia member, means for rotating said inertia member to store energy therein, an engine engaging member, means including a gear train and a friction clutch for drivably connecting said inertia member with said engine engaging member, and manually controlled means for rendering said friction clutch ineffective during the period of storage of energy in said inertia member.'

27. An engine starter apparatus including an engine engaging member, a driving barrel adjac-ent to said engine engaging member and extending beyond one end thereof, a clutch operatively connecting said barrel with said engine engaging member, resilient means for applying@ trol the effectiveness of said resilient means with respect to said clutch. i

28. An engine starter apparatus including an engine engaging member, a clutch operatively connected to said engine engaging member, resilicnt means for applying pressure to said clutch, a driving member operatively connected with said clutch, and means passing through said driving member to control the effectiveness of said resilient means with respect to said clutch.

29. An engine starter apparatus including an engine engaging member, a friction clutch operatively connected with said engine engaging member, resilient means for applying pressure to said friction clutch, a driving shaft operatively connected with said clutch, and a rod 'passing through said shaft to control the effectiveness of said resilient means with respect to said friction clutch,

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

